SOUTH NORWALK – When Casarra Cover was asked what her past self would think of herself now, without blinking, she responded, “I’m pretty sure she would say, ‘Girl, you made it.’”
And why not, at the age of 24 and the mother of four kids she was left in charge of the family business – Whitaker’s Garage Door Store in Peekskill, New York. Cover, the president, and her husband, Jonathan, have run the business since acquiring it from Cover’s grandfather Henry B. Whitaker in 2008.
“I feel so great to say I’m 36 and you did it,” she added. “Past Casarra would be so proud that we never gave up.”
That interaction took place between Cover and Fox61 Meteorologist Matt Scott serving as MC of Westfair Business Journal’s annual Millennial and Gen Z Awards April 10 at The Maritime Aquarium. The event was sponsored by Audi Fairfield and Robison Heating Oil of Purchase, New York. Event supporters included Action Entertainment, Barnum Financial Group – The SKG Team, Cuddy & Feder LLP, Deloitte, Orange Bank & Trust Co., New England Antique Lumber, Sharc Creative, The Maritime Aquarium, 2 Chicks with chocolate, and Lewis and Kirk Expeditions Inc. dba Lewis and Kirk Music.
Westfair Business Journal is the parent company for Fairfield County Business Journal and Westchester County Business Journal.
The event honored 21 Millennial and Gen Z business people from Westchester and Fairfield counties who have made a positive difference in their community through their work.
“At Westfair Business Journal, we take pride in being a platform that celebrates excellence across various fields,” said Westfair Event Director Natalie Holland. “With over 60 years of dedicated service, we’re not just a publication. We’re a community that brings people together.”
Michael Maler, owner of an eponymous consulting firm and former creative director with Lovesac and ESPN, set the tone for the evening as a guest speaker.
“It’s been an amazing journey. I’ve been so fortunate to have met so many incredible people,” he told the award-winners, their families, and co-workers. “I really love what I do, and I don’t take that for granted.”
The 40-something creative director had some advice for the honorees.
“Careers aren’t just built on talent; they’re built on actions,” he said. “You’re going to be just one conversation away from the rest of your career. If I could ask one thing tonight, ‘Just spark a conversation with the person next to you’ and put yourself out there and connect. You never know in the future where that’s going to lead.”
Honorees’ insights
When asked what’s something your parents warned you about that ended up being true, Jennifer Chiarella, deputy general counsel of Valitana LLC and adjunct professor of UConn Stamford, said: “Always trust your instincts. My parents’ advice has proven invaluable in life and business. Throughout my career, there’s been moments when I challenged recommendations from peers or superiors and I went in a different direction. Each time trusting my gut led to better outcomes and reinforced my confidence in my own judgment.”
When Keishara Colby, senior registered wealth management client service associate of Morgan Stanley in Stamford, was asked the same question, she responded: “It often feels like we’re navigating without a map, but as long as we keep trying, we can learn and grow from our experiences, regardless of setbacks. As a 31-year-old now, I realized that’s incredibly wrong. No one knows what they are doing ever. We are all flying by the seat of our pants and trying to make more right decisions than wrong decisions.”
When asked if he could complement himself, what would you say, Stephen Marcellino, vice president of sales for Lippolis Electric in Pelham, said: ““My fast-paced way of thinking and making decisions seems abrupt to a lot of people at times, but there is a methodical method to my madness leveraged to grow the Lippolis Electric brand and provide my family with a great life.”
The judges for the awards were Gary Larkin, editor of the Fairfield County Business Journal; Peter Katz, editor of the Westchester County Business Journal; and Shannon O’Toole, president and CEO of the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce.
The honorees
Here is the full list of honorees:
- Michael Avallon, senior project manager, Viking Construction Inc.
- Sarah Bollert, vice president of brand strategy and Northeast business development, Bristol Global Mobility
- Jennifer Chiarella, deputy general counsel of Valitana LLC and adjunct professor at UConn Stamford
- Keishara Colby, senior registered wealth management client service associate, Morgan Stanley
- Casarra Cover, president, Whitaker’s Garage Door Store
- Rishi Jaggernauth, director, EVKEEZA HCP Marketing, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Stephanie Joyce, CEO and founder, Attune Med Spa
- Jarad Kleinberg, principal, MKDA
- Stephen Marcellino Jr., vice president of sales, Lippolis Electric
- Tanya Mendoza, walk-in clinic paralegal, Pace Women’s Justice Center
- Ryan Muller, vice president, commercial loan officer, Orange Bank & Trust Co.
- Yasmin Najjar, program manager, environmental justice and workforce development, Sustainablle Westchester
- James Nolan, Westchester County legislator District 15, Westchester County Board of Legislators
- Daniel Patrick, attorney, Cuddy & Feder LLP
- Danellys Pirela, insurance agent, New York Life
- Molly Rivers Ryan, town grants and constituent services manager, municipal veterans representative, Town of Stratford
- Clark Rudd, audit and assurance senior manager, Deloitte & Touche LLP
- Elisabeth Toth, marketing coordinator, Robison Heating Oil
- Jorge Ulloa, design consultant, Remodeling Consultants Inc.
- Ryan Wright, financial advisor, Barnum Financial Group
- Tatenda Zenega, director, Camp Morty, Westchester Parks Foundation
“These nominees have been all been nominated by many of you because you see something in them that you hope that they will continue to have in the future,” said Scott in his closing remarks. “That is the perseverance, the dedication, the drive and the wont to make this world a better place.”
